14 Best Cold Coffee Drinks at Starbucks in 2025

There is a time and place where it pays to know how to order the best cold coffee at Starbucks. Sometimes, it’s the height of August — it’s already blazing hot when you wake up for work, and you really need something cold. Or it may just be during a midday lunch break when you could do with something to get you through the rest of the day.

In those moments, the queen of coffee chains is here for you: good luck choosing just one of the dozens of options available to you. So you wouldn’t be alone if you’ve ever found yourself wondering: What are the best cold coffees at Starbucks? How can I order the best Starbucks iced coffee to maximize refreshment when I need it most?

So, to help you in your moment of need, we’ve pulled together a list of 14 of the best cold coffees at Starbucks. Don’t let the dog days of summer get you down (caffeine may help with depression, after all, according to the American Medical Association) — hop over to your local chain and grab one when the moment calls for it.

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• The 14 Best Iced Coffee Drinks at Starbucks
• What Is the Best Cold Coffee Drink at Starbucks?

The 14 Best Iced Coffee Drinks at Starbucks

1. Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso

This is one of the simplest cold coffee creations at the powerhouse coffee chain, and that works in its favor. An Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso contains nothing but espresso, oat milk and brown sugar syrup over ice, with a dash of cinnamon to top it off. It’s a slightly less sugary choice than some of the other best cold coffees at Starbucks, while still being notably sweet. 

Plus, that brown sugar-cinnamon combination is a flavor we tend to associate with autumn. So if what you really want is for the fall seasonal menu to come early this year, the Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso is about as close as you’ll get to making that dream come true. It’s a lofty expectation for a humble iced coffee, but this one rises to the challenge. 

2. Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte

Speaking of autumn, nothing says fall like the annual return of the Pumpkin Spice Latte, affectionately referred to as the PSL. But in some places, autumn doesn’t exactly mean cooler weather.

The good news? If it’s October and you’re still sweating every time you walk outside, ordering an iced PSL might not be the worst idea. In many ways, this festive autumnal drink is one of the best cold coffees at Starbucks because it combines the comforting flavors from many people's favorite choices with the cool, refreshing elements needed every so often. 

3. Iced Caramel Macchiato 

The Iced Caramel Macchiato is a more decadent choice among the best cold coffees at Starbucks, thanks to its use of milk. Instead of a pure coffee base, this drink mixes espresso, whole milk (or your preferred substitute), vanilla syrup and a drizzle of caramel on top. If you’d like, you can also top it with whipped cream, although that gets a little dicey with iced drinks! 

Because of that creamy base, the Iced Caramel Macchiato is one of the more indulgent cold coffees at Starbucks. It’s also an absolute classic, a go-to order for thousands of happy customers with a sterling reputation to back it up. You might find it much too sweet, sure. But if you’ve got a sweet tooth, you may be one of the many who agree that this drink hits the spot. 

4. Iced Caffè Americano 

Not everyone likes their iced coffee sweet, and that's okay. Whether you’re a coffee purist or you need to watch your sugar for health reasons, you might find yourself getting a little fed up with the number of sweet options among the best cold coffees at Starbucks. And you’re within your rights: unfortunately, iced coffees aren’t usually the healthiest Starbucks drinks. But all is not lost, we promise!  

A Caffè Americano is a simple, classic drink consisting of espresso diluted with water. If you don’t love the taste of coffee, this is obviously not going to be your Starbucks order. But if you do or you want the caffeine kick without all the sugar, this is one of the best cold coffees at Starbucks for you. 

5. Iced Lavender Oatmilk Latte 

In the past few years, Starbucks has been experimenting with new flavors beyond the classics. Vanilla, chocolate, caramel and cinnamon aren’t as exciting anymore: enter lavender. Whether or not the earthy, floral taste of the evergreen shrub is your thing, it’s taking the coffee world by storm. So it’s no surprise that a lavender drink is one of the best cold coffees at Starbucks. 

Like many of the simpler drinks on this list, the Iced Lavender Oatmilk Latte starts with a milk-espresso base. Then, your barista will add lavender powder for that unique taste. This is one of the best cold coffees at Starbucks if you’re looking for a springtime vibe. 

6. Iced Flat White 

We’ve got to make sure we list a few of the best cold coffees at Starbucks that aren’t sweet, too. While it’s easy to favor the novelty of the brand’s sugary creations, that would do a disservice to the many fans who really just want coffee. For those folks, an Iced Flat White is water in the flavored-syrup desert: it’s made with nothing but coffee, ice and milk. 

If you want a coffee-centric drink with a milder flavor than a Caffè Americano, this will be an excellent choice. An Iced Flat White has that coffee taste you’re looking for, but the balancing effect of the creamy milk tones it down, so it’s not nearly as overwhelming. It is one of the best cold coffees at Starbucks if you need something between a straight-up espresso over ice and an ultra-sugary latte. 

7. Vanilla Sweet Cream Nitro Cold Brew 

If you’re wondering what cold brew is, you’re not alone. Turns out it’s just coffee made from beans steeped in cold water overnight before being brewed. That’s the base that makes this simple but luxurious beverage one of the best cold coffees at Starbucks. It’s said to be a smoother coffee drink with a little less bite. So, if the bitterness of coffee isn’t your favorite, cold brew might be a better alternative.

And this particular cold brew-based drink is made with vanilla sweet cream, an ultra-creamy add-in that harmonizes perfectly with the smooth mouthfeel of the coffee element. This couldn’t be further from your basic vanilla latte: No, the Vanilla Sweet Cream Nitro Cold Brew is sophistication in a Starbucks cup. If you want to feel like you know what you’re talking about and enjoy a deliciously smooth sip, this is the best cold coffee at Starbucks by far. 

8. Iced Chai Latte

Yes, we know: this isn’t actually a coffee drink. But not every great source of cold caffeine at Starbucks is made with coffee, so we’re throwing it in anyway. An Iced Chai Latte consists of milk, black tea and warming spices, and even though it’s more commonly served warm, the iced version is ridiculously underrated. 

If you’re sick of your coffee order but can’t wake up in the morning without caffeine, this is even better than the best cold coffees at Starbucks. The same goes for people who know they hate coffee but inexplicably decided to read this article anyway. (We see you, and we appreciate you). Sometimes the best cold coffee at Starbucks…isn’t a coffee at all. 

9. Cold Brew With Cold Foam 

We already know what cold brew is, but what about cold foam? Are they the same? Not at all. Cold foam is a whipped milk topping that Starbucks uses to add body and texture to many of its simpler coffee drinks. Much like cold brew, it feels sophisticated — a more adult cream topping than the usual whip and the main reason why this is one of the best cold coffees at Starbucks. 

Flavor-wise, there isn’t much going on in this drink. There’s no sugary syrup or spice to dilute the flavors of coffee and milk. But both of those flavors are smooth, refined and subtler than usual. Texture, not taste, is the name of the game here, resulting in an elevated experience for one of the best cold coffees at Starbucks for caffeine purists who are a little harder to impress. 

10. Iced Mocha 

It’s a common childhood misunderstanding to assume that coffee is somehow related to chocolate. When you’re a little kid, any warm brown drink is probably going to make you think of hot cocoa. So, if you were disappointed to grow up and learn that caffeinated drinks actually tasted nothing like chocolate, this is one of the best cold coffees at Starbucks to re-ignite that spark of excitement. 

An Iced Mocha is made with milk, espresso and chocolate syrup. It’s sweet and chocolatey without losing the bitter coffee taste that lets you know you’re still being adequately caffeinated. And it isn’t only chocolate lovers who are into it: the Iced Mocha is a concept that spawned a thousand flavored spinoffs, and for good reason. Whether or not you agree that this is one of the best cold coffees at Starbucks, you can’t deny it’s one of the most influential. 

11. Nitro Cold Brew 

If cold brew is your coffee of choice (or you're eager to try it after having learned about it here), there are a handful of ways you can order it at Starbucks. One is simply to take it as is: a plain Nitro Cold Brew is a perfect pick-me-up if you’re here for the coffee, not all the add-ons. It’s low in calories, fat and sugar but high in caffeine, making it one of the best cold coffees at Starbucks for health-conscious people.

12. Iced White Chocolate Mocha 

A White Chocolate Mocha just sounds like a hot drink. Steamed milk, espresso, white chocolate — something about it just seems wintery. That’s what makes the iced version such an unsung gem. While you might not think to order this drink in its cold form, an Iced White Chocolate Mocha is one of the best Starbucks iced coffees if you love the soothing vibes of the brand's winter menus. 

13. Iced Cinnamon Dolce Latte

This one lives up to its name with a double hit of cinnamon, courtesy of cinnamon dolce syrup and cinnamon sprinkles. That’s a lot of cinnamon, but it’s also pretty much the only flavor besides coffee in this drink. Think of it as ordering a cinnamon roll for breakfast in the form of one of the best cold coffees at Starbucks.

Because the Iced Cinnamon Dolce Latte is so simple, it might make a good introductory drink if you’re just starting to explore the world of cold coffee at Starbucks. The flavors are simple and recognizable, and if you like cinnamon already, you know exactly what you’re getting. Plus, the slight spice of the cinnamon also helps cut the sugary flavor a little bit, which makes for a more balanced drink. 

14. Salted Caramel Cream Cold Brew 

Ask many Starbucks cold brew fans, and they’ll tell you this sweet iced drink is the best cold coffee at Starbucks. The classic combination of cold brew and cold foam gets a salty-sweet boost from the flavor of salted caramel. It’s not overwhelmingly sweet, but it’ll still satisfy your sugary cravings.

When it comes to Starbucks, many assume that maturing is outgrowing your beloved Frappuccino and switching to plain black coffee. Maybe there’s something to be said for that: you get to a point where you want to start considering your health when something’s got 40-plus grams of sugar. However, some of the best cold coffees at Starbucks are a happy medium. Sweet but refined, the Salted Caramel Cream Cold Brew is one such option.

What Is the Best Cold Coffee Drink at Starbucks?

Allow us to be frank: this is an impossible question to answer. Two of the coffee chain's fans could easily endlessly debate the best cold coffee at Starbucks: one is a coffee purist who thinks an Iced Flat White can’t be beaten and the other swears by the sugary goodness of the Iced White Chocolate Mocha. So the best we can do is list a few among the best cold coffees at Starbucks that stand out the most.

If you're going for the most caffeinated drink at Starbucks, a Grande Nitro Cold Brew will do the trick, with 280 milligrams. If you want something sweet? It’s hard to beat a good old Caramel Macchiato.

Looking for the healthiest option? The best cold coffee at Starbucks in this category is easily the Caffé Americano. And if you want to try something a bit more unique this time around, the best cold coffee at Starbucks for you to try is the Lavender Oatmilk Latte. 

We couldn’t possibly include every Starbucks iced coffee on this list — we’d be here for hours. But this overview of a few of the best cold coffees at Starbucks should give you an idea of what’s out there, where to start your exploration and what’s most tried-and-true. And if today’s drink wouldn’t have made your personal list of the best cold coffees at Starbucks, worry not: you will live to caffeinate another day. Why not try another one tomorrow? 

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